Verifying Your Sportsbook Account for Withdrawals

Updated July 6, 2018

Before you make your first withdrawal at your sportsbook, you’ll be required to verify your identity to receive your sports betting winnings. While many consider this process to be cumbersome and time-consuming, it doesn’t have to be if you’re equipped with the right knowledge.

To learn precisely why your sportsbook puts you through this verification process– and how to get your sportsbook account verified quickly and efficiently – read our short and comprehensive guide!

Why Do Sportsbooks Need to Verify Your Identity?

It really boils down to two things: legal rules and a competitive marketplace. Sportsbooks are licensed, regulated businesses, and as such, they need to comply with the regulations in the areas they’re based out of, either Europe, North America, or the Caribbean.

Additionally, sportsbooks seek to provide their clients with the best customer service possible to stand out in the market. Verifying bettors’ information before payouts is an essential step on this path.

The following are the specific reasons that sportsbooks need to vet your identity before sending you your winnings:

It is in every sportsbooks’ best interest to maximize security for their global customers. Sportsbooks protect themselves from aiding and abetting anyone who’s committed identity theft, necessary for developing favorable relationships with payment providers around the world. This allows them to process a high number of deposits (both big and small) quickly.

It’s crucial to be compliant with international banking standards (including both Know Your Customer and Anti Money Laundering policies). Identity verification is an integral component of this. Any company that is complicit in aiding fraudulent activity will be financially penalized (including sportsbooks).

Verifications can remove the risk of ‘missing payments’, which can take weeks (sometimes, months) to find, recall, and then subsequently resend to bettors. Processing fees to recover these payments are often quite steep for both the sportsbook and the bettor. Verifying bettors’ identities ensures that ‘missing payments’ are avoided.

What Happens If You Aren’t Verified?

If you don’t verify your identity and address, you won’t be able to receive your payouts. Sportsbooks, without exception, must confirm your identity and address before you can even request a withdrawal.

As such, we recommend taking care of the verification process as soon as you create your sportsbook account. No one wants to wait for payouts any longer than they have to!

What Documents Do You Need To Verify Your Identity?

There are two primary forms of ID you’ll need to get your sportsbook account verified: proof of identity and proof of address.

In the rare cases where your address documentation doesn’t match the address listed on your identification, you may be required to present two documents that prove your address.

Acceptable Forms of Proof of Identification

To verify your identity, you’ll need to provide your sportsbook with a color copy of your photo identification. While sportsbooks undoubtedly prefer a copy of your passport or Driver’s license, they will accept other forms of official identification cards. The critical thing sportsbooks look for in the verification process for is an official form of photo ID that bears your full name. If your photo is too blurry to make out, you’ll need to resend it.

In most cases, sportsbooks will ask you to make sure that the MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) at the foot of both your passport and driver’s license is visible in the photograph. This is done to guarantee the document’s authenticity.

As a general rule, your presented forms of identification should be valid for at least three months before they expire.

Acceptable Forms of Address Verification

To prove your address, you’ll need to provide some form of documentation that clearly displays your current billing address and full name. Most bettors prefer to use utility bills in this scenario, but they are many alternatives if you don’t have a standard utility bill under your name.

As long as the provided document is an official paper statement, shows your address and name, and has the company’s logo, you should be verified.

It’s important to remember that the bill or statement must be less than 6 months old for it to be successfully verified.

The following are accepted forms of proof of address:

Water Bill

Electricity Bill

Cable Bill

Phone Bill

Wireless Internet Bill

Medical Bill

Medical Insurance Statement

Car Insurance Statement

Renter’s Insurance Statement

Homeowners Insurance Statement

Property Receipt

Lease / Rental Agreement

Government Documentation

Credit Card Statement

Bank Account Statement

How Exactly Do I Verify My Identity at My Sportsbook?

To be successfully verified, you must first scan your documents, save them in a .jpeg format, and upload them to the “My Account” section of your sportsbook.

If you don’t have a scanner, some sportsbooks will allow you to use your phone (or a digital camera) to take a photo. From there, you can upload your photo onto your computer, and submit it in the same way (as a .jpeg file).

Make sure that all necessary information is 100% clear, legible, and easy for your sportsbook to read.

Attachments should be under 5MB, and preferably even smaller.

How Often Do I Have to Verify My Information?

You will only ever need to verify your identity and address once. Once your documents have been confirmed, you’ll have quick withdrawals for life at your sportsbooks.

My Sportsbook Has Verified My Information. What Next?

Once you’re verified, all you have to do is bet on the winners! Taking care of the nitty-gritty details in your sports betting experience isn’t the most exciting portion of the path to becoming a sharp, but it’s necessary.

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